Inhaler



(No Model.) v

' W. A. JOHNSTON 8v A. -W,'BROWN E.

INHALER.

' 11o-291,196l Patented Jan. 1, 1884.

` WITNESSES INVENTORS:

William ./J/mflz n PETERS, Phnlq'ulbogmphnr, washington. n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT trice.

,. VILLIAM A. JOHNSTON, OF CLIFTON, AND ARTHUR W'. BROW'NE, OF PLEAS- ANT PLAINS, NEW YORK, ASSIGN ORS TO THE S. S. VHITE DENTAL vMAN- UFACTURING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

I'NHALER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 291,156, dated January 1, 1884.

Application filed April 2, ISES. (No model.)

.To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

`Be it known that we, WILLIAM A. JOHN- STON, of Clifton, in the county of Richmond and State of New York, and ARTHUR W. BRowNE, 5 of Pleasant Plains, in the said county and State, have jointly invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inhalers, of which the following is a speciflcation.' l

Our invention relates to an inhaler for use, 1o with suitableapparatus, for inhaling nitrousoxide gas, ether, and other like antesthetics, which are administered t a patient for the purpose of producing anaesthesia,y and consequent insensibility to the pain produced by a I5 surgical or dental operation.

Our invention relates particularly to the inhaling part of the apparatus. Its objects are to improve the inhaler so as to permit of more perfect operation and vcontrol over the antesthetic, to produce better effects therefrom,

to avoid waste or leakage of the anzesthetic,

and to so connect the vinhaler with the reservoir fromv which the gas or other anzesthetic is drawn that the inhaler-tube will lie parallel with the patient s breast and be out of the way ofthe operator.

The subject-matter claimed herein is particularly pointed out at the close of the speciflcation.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate our improvements as embodied in the best Way now known to us, Figure ll is a perspective view of the inhaler. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section therethrough, showing the valves of the inhaler in one position.

'Fig'.` 3 is a similar section of part of the inhaler,l showing the valves in a different state of operation; and Fig. 4 is a section through the inhaler at right angles with Fig-2 on the 40 line 4 4 of said figure.

Some of our improvements may be used without the others, and in inhaling apparatus diifering somewhat from that particularly shown in the`drawings.

A tube, A, is connected, as usual, by means of screw-threads, with the free. end of the usual flexible inhaling-tube leading from the gasreservoir, and in connection with a tube, B,

forms a friction or slip joint, as clearly shown in Figs. l, 2, and 4, whereby the tube-sections A and B may be readily separated when dcsired. YV e will call these tubes, or any equivalent thereof, a draft-tube. The tube B is connected with a mouthpiece-carrying tube, C, so that said tube C shall be connected with the tube B, and be supported thereon at an angle of about forty-ve degrees, (more or less,) by means, preferably, of a five-sided prismatic chamber casing or coupling, D, the said chamber-casing being provided upon its sides,which constitute virtually a triangle in cross-section, with three several openings, the walls of two of which openings, l and 2, are screw-threaded to receive the screw-threaded ends of the tubes B and C, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, Whlle the walls of the opening 3 are provided with a screw-connection, by which a cap, E, is secured upon said prismatie easing. The outer end of the mouth-tube C is provided with the usual hood, C', to surround the mouth, and with the usual hard-rubber mouth-piece,

C2, preferably connected with the outer end of said tube C by screw-threads, so as tobe removable. 'Ihe cap E is provided with lan opening, e, as clearly shownin the several figures,to permitfree access of air to the chambercasing D in one condition of operation of the apparatus.

Fitted within the upper end of the tube B is a bridge-piece, b, through a central opening of which a guide-stem, F, passes, said stem being provided at its lower end with a shoulder, f, between which and said bridgepiece b a light spiral spring, G, is compressed, so that the tendency of said light spring is to thrust the guide-stem F inward into the tube B, the extent of movement being determined by means of a plate or disk, I, preferably of hard rubber, fastened to the upper end of saidv guide-stem, and titted to constitute a valve by means of its under surface being carried against the upper annular end of the tube B, so as to close said tube when the valve is resting against its end. The bridge-piece b, before mentioned, is perforated or open, so as to permit the free passage of the gas or an- 2 aanwas :esthetic to be inhaled, as will be presently more fully explained.

Fitted in the exhaling-opening in the chamber casing or coupling D is also inserted a bridge-picce,j, through which a guide-stem, J, passes, and is acted upon by alight spring, K, the tendency of which is to thrust said guide-stem into the chamber, the extent of" i11- ward movement being determined by a disk or plate, L, preferably of hard rubber, mounted upon the outer end of said guide-stem, and fitted to constitute a valve to close said ex haling-Opening by coming against the annular shoulder formed at the outer termination ot' said opening.

Extending transverscl y a cross the upper and smaller end of the prismatic chamber-piece D is a rock-shaft, BI, carrying a cam piece or projection, an, said cam-piece being provided with a projecting point, m', and with a small anti-friction roller, fm?. The shaft )I has coiled about it a spring, N, the tendency of which is to throw the shaft in the position to carry the cam-piece m in posit-ion to causeits projection m to come against the inner end ofthe guide stem of the valve L and raise said valve from its seat, and the anti-friction roller m'l to bear against the upper surface ot' the valve I and close said valve down upon its seat upon the end of the tube D. 2y the operation of this spring the valve I will be closed, while the valve L will be opened or lifted from its seat, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to permit the free passage of air through the opening c inthe cap E to the chamber D, and from thence to the lungs of the patient. In this position ofthe parts, as shown in Fig. 2, free access of the air to the lungs, as we have stated, is permitted, while no gas can be inhaled through the flexible inhaling-tube and parts A D, as the passage from the gas-rescrvoir to the lungs of the patient will be closed by the valve I. then the gas or other anasthetic is to be administered, the shaft N is rocked, so as to carry the eam-piece m away from the valves and their connections, as shown in Fig. 3.

The operating connection preferably consists ofa bow-shaped fingcr-picce, O, connected at its ends with the outer ends of" said shaft M, and being so organized that when moved to the position to rock the shaft M and carry its cam-piece away from the valves it will be retained in such position by riding over a detentshoulder, c'`, in this instance, which is formed externally upon thecap E, before described. \Vhen in this position, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, it will be obvious that the light coiled springs respectively act to close their valves or disks. The patient is now caused to breathe through the mouth-piece of the inhaler, and at each inspiration the valve I is lifted to permit of" the flow of gas or other anzesthetic to thelungs to produce antcsthesia, while it is obvious at such inspiration the valve L will keep its closed position, so as to prevent the entrance of external air to the lungs through the inhaler. fhenuexhaling, the expired breathis delivered directly against the top of the valve I, causing it to close,while the valve L is lifted from its seat, and permits the expired breath Vto pass"outdtllrough the opening in the cap e Upon renewed inspiration the valve I will again be lifted for a fresh draft of the gas,while the air will be excluded from entering by the closing of the valve L, and the inspirations and exhalations continue until aiuesthesia is produced, upon which the operator simply releases the yoke from its detent or catch c2, when the spring N will cause the cam-piece m, before described, to firmly close the valve Iand positively open the valve L, whereupon external air only will be admitted to thelungs, andthe will be shut off. By connecting the tubes B and C by a detachable elbow casing or coupling, D, various advantages accrue, prominent among which is the ease with which the parts are put together and taken apart when necessary for repairs, and the ease in fitting the valves and controlling them by means ofa single piece of mechanism. By the construction described, also, the mouth-tube C and inhaler or draft-tube are so connected together that the usual flexible inhaling-tube is permitted to lie down upon or parallel with the patients breast., and be out ot' the way of the operator during the administration ot' the anresthetic. Another advantage of the organization is that the passage for the expired breath is direct, and its easy escape is afforded. This is essential to a pert'cct inhaler, as during the progress of producing amesthesia, when the paticnts breath becomes weaker and weaker, direct escape for the expired breath should be afforded.

\Vithout elaborating further advantages of' our improvements, which have been demonstl-ated by practical operation and experience with the inhaler, we would say that we claim herein as of our invention l. The combination of the draft-tube with the mouth-tube by means of aprismatic coupling or chamber-piece, substantially as described. Y

2. A prismatic chamber-piece for inhalers, having openings therein communicating with a mouthtube, drafttube, and an air-inlet, and provided with detachable connections for said tubes, substantially as described.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the mouth and draft tubes with two valves and an operatingmechanism for said valves,substantially as described, whereby said operating mechanism in one position permits said valves to act automatically and in another position closes one of said valves and opens the other.

et. The combination of the draft and mouth tubes, the chamber-piece or coupling, t-he operating-valves, the rock-shaft carrying a cam or its equivalent to control said valves, and a handle to operate said rock-shaft.

IOO

IIO

5. The combination of the draft and mouth scribed our names this 30th day of March, A. tubes, the chamber-piece or coupling, the D. 1883. y valves, the rook-shaft carrying a @am or its y T T equivalent to control said valves, the spring` Hb STOB 5 acting; upon said rock-shaft, thehandle 01 flnger-piecey to operate said shaft, and a detent to Y Vitnesses: retain said shaft. against the force of its spring. RINALDER FISHER,

In testimony whereof wehave hereunto sub- CHAs. FISHER. 

